Well-sinterable Y₃Al₅O₁₂ powder from carbonate precursor

Carbonate precursors of Y₃Al₅O₁₂ (YAG) were synthesized from a mixed solution of alum and yttrium nitrate using ammonium hydrogen carbonate as precipitant. Precipitation method (normal-strike or reverse-strike) and aging were found to have dramatic effects on cation homogeneity of the precursor, which in turn influenced the formation temperature of the YAG phase. Reactive YAG powders were produced from the reverse-strike-derived, as-synthesized precursors at temperatures ≤ 1200 °C. These powders densified to >98.0% of the theoretical density up to 1500 °C at a constant heating rate of 8 °C/min or to transparency by vacuum sintering at 1700 °C for 1 h without additives.